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There is no question that music played an important part in the he Protestant Reformation Germany. Today celebrations of the Reformation are frequently accompanied by Luther's hymn Ein' fest Burg ist unser Gott (often called battle hymn of the Reformation).

The idea to compose a symphony in honor of  the tercentenary celebration of the Augsburg Confession (1530), one of the most important documents of the Reformation, came to Mendelssohn while he was in England during the fall of 1829. The symphony was completed during that winter; its first performance, which the composer conducted was in Berlin, November 15, 1832. At its first performance it was entitled Symphony for the Celebration of a Religious Revolution; the title Reformation became associated with the work later. The work received few performances during the composer's lifetime and was evidently laid aside, as it wasn't published until 1868, posthumously.

Of the symphony's four movements, the first and last allude to Lutheran themes. The work opens with a slow solemn introduction closing with pianissimo strings intoning the Dresden Amen (taken from the 18th century Luthern liturgy used in Saxony). The ensuing allegro con fuoco is dominated by a bold powerful theme. Following the development section, the recapitulation is signalled by the reappearance of the Dresden Amen.

The second movement engages in turn the woodwinds, strings, then full orchestra in a tuneful, playful scherzo. The trio featuares a lilting oboe line.

The short contemplative andante, a song without words for strings, serves as a prelude for the finale -- fantasia on Luther's hymn Ein' feste Burg. Simply introduced by a single flute, then woodwind chorus, the chorale leads into new material in sonata form. Phrases of the chorale reappear in the development, growing in strength in the recapitulation, with the coda a majestic statement of the hymn for full orchestra.
 
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